Three tips for navigating learning differences and accommodations with IES Abroad

One, frankly surprising, challenge of my college experience was learning how to navigate the world of learning differences and disabilities within academia. I know personally that this has been one of the more stressful experiences I have had within college, so it is only natural that such anxiety permeates through to a study abroad experience. 

For me, and many of my peers in similar boats, this is a very personal and important part of our levied experience and identity. And as a result, when we have to implement it in a new environment, it creates this massive unknown. 

As a result, to help alleviate some of these worries, here are three pieces of advice that I can give prior to you stating on your study abroad journey, to ensure that you remain academically at your best.

• Breathe easy

Learning how to navigate the system of academic accommodations in the United States will very easily be able to transfer over to IES Abroad centers. In my experience in Nice, and I would bet it's similar for others, oftentimes the same types of accommodations, and their respective processes, are coordinated in a similar manner between IES Abroad and my home school.

Part of this is because IES Abroad is an American non-profit and attracts mostly students from the United States. As a result, it follows accommodation procedures that occur domestically, which are fairly universal no matter where you go to school.

What this means, for a student who receives academic or other accommodations in the states and is worried about how they will be applied abroad, is that it will be a lot of the same. And in my opinion and experience, that's a good thing, as it's one less thing to be stressed over.

So please, do not stress over this. You are not the first, nor the last, student to come in with these accommodations, or anxiety about their implementation. 

• Come prepared

Yes, you will need to hunt down some materials from your home school. I would recommend reading up on those procedures as you are starting the application process, and have them ready for when the deadline is approaching.  

Different schools will have different procedures to follow, but the end result will be the same: normally a letter from your home school that certifies what accommodations you are eligible for. 

• Adopt a policy of open and honest communication within the first few weeks

The largest piece of advice I can give is to establish a positive rapport with those individuals who are responsible for implementing your accommodations while abroad. What this means is both a combination of being a good, caring, and genuine person, but also to have clear and open communication about what you need from them in terms of academic support. 

What this means is that if something is not working, ask about it!